Monday, December 3, 2012

Happy Holidays


“Happy Holidays” is a politically correct term that makes me physically sick.  It has arrived in the American vernacular in an attempt to offend no one.  Oh how it deeply offends me.  I’m a Christian.  Christmas is about the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.  I have Jewish friends.  Their holiday, Hanukkah/Chanukah, is about the Maccabean Revolt against the Greeks in 2nd century BC.  They spend eight days commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple.  Are either one of these events so insignificant to warrant summarization as “Happy Holidays?” 

Yes, I have also heard, “We must include the ‘holiday’ of Ramadan in our ‘Happy Holidays’ politically correct dialogue.”  This year the Islamic celebration of Ramadan took place from July 19th through August 18th.  Obviously, it is not even applicable, under these two umbrella words, for this time of year.

I wish my Jewish friends Happy Chanukah.  They wish me a Merry Christmas.  We survive this exchange.  The world does not end and a war does not break out.  We accept that each of us observe differently and we wish each other well.  And if they had given me Chanukah greetings, I given them Christmas greetings, we still would have simply been wishing each other well.

I do not know who the “they” are, who every year cause further division among us and get headlines.  “They” do not and cannot speak for me. 

So to one and all, I wish you each Happy Chanukah and each a Merry Christmas.  Most of all, I wish you the opportunity to spend time with those you love and to celebrate the reasons for the seasons.